Puebla de Sanabria Campervan Area

Where it is and what it is like

The municipal campervan area of Puebla de Sanabria is in the El Pinar sports zone, next to the football pitch, the water centre and the padel courts, very close to the River Tera and about 800 metres from the town centre. It occupies a plot of 9,500 square metres with 48 pitches, and is only for motorhomes and campers: it is not a campsite and does not admit tents.

The site is fenced, lit and has video surveillance, which is welcome if you leave the vehicle to spend the day at the lake or walk up to the town. The address is Camino El Pinar, no number, in the lower part of the village, near the river.

Services and price

The services are the basics of an overnight area: emptying of grey and black water and filling with drinking water. The council does not mention electric hook-ups, showers or toilets, so it is best to arrive with the batteries charged and count on the campervan's own bathroom.

The area is run by the company TripStop and costs 5 euros for every 24 hours. The municipal website does not detail the payment system or whether there is a limit on the number of days you can stay; the usual thing in this kind of area is to pay at the entrance or with the operator's app, but check on arrival. It also does not say whether it closes at any time of year.

What to do from here

The good thing about the place is that you do not need to move the campervan to get to know the town. From the area you walk up to the historic centre, a historic-artistic ensemble, with the castle of the Counts of Benavente, the walls, the church of Nuestra Señora del Azogue, the chapel of San Cayetano and the Giants Museum. The climb is steep, because the town is on top of a hill between the rivers Tera and Castro.

To go to the Lake Sanabria Natural Park, about 12 kilometres away, you do need to drive. In high season the lake car parks fill up, so the practical thing is to leave your pitch secured here and set out early. For eating without moving the vehicle, in the town there are the Parador's dining room, on Avenida del Lago, and the cellar dining rooms of La Cartería, on the Rúa.

Tips

In summer, on long weekends and during the town's medieval market, the area can fill up: better to arrive early. In winter Sanabria is cold, so check the heating and the fresh-water tank before going up. If you need electricity or showers, you will have to look for a campsite in the region, which usually open only in season.